Roman Art and Architecture Historical Background
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Transcript Roman Art and Architecture Historical Background
Alexander Mosaic (*IS)
Alexander Mosaic (*IS)
Original: c. 310 BCE,
Roman copy c. 100 BCE
Floor Mosaic based on
Greek Mural, found in
Pompeii
Complex interweaving of
characters
Alexander at left is assured
of success; Darius at right
concedes while army flees
Alexander Mosaic (*IS)
Roman Art and
Architecture
Rome’s history is a rise from a humble
village to a world power
Originally ruled by kings, who were
overthrown and replaced with a Senate
Well-executed wars increased Rome’s
fortunes and boundaries
Historical Background
Greece absorbed in 146 BCE
Civil war caused by death of Julius Caesar – his
adopted son Octavian eventually became
Emperor in 27 BCE
Rome remains an Empire until the city is sacked
in 410 CE
Pompeii’s preservation allows us to know more of
daily life in Rome than of any other civilization
◦ Greek culture and art valued by Romans
◦ Much Roman art is little more than copying of Greek
work
Background
117 BCE- First time in history a single
government will rule an empire from the Nile
to the Strait of Gibraltar, from the Tigris and
Euphrates to Danube and Thames and
beyond.
No government before or after used art so
effectively as a political tool.
Roman General Trajan, led the Imperial Army
to victory far west and east; thus, Rome
unites cultures far and wide.
More background
Territory spanned 3
continents
Millions of people,
diverse languages;
numerous races;
variety of cultures
Britons, Gauls,
Greeks, Egyptians,
Africans, Syrians,
Jews, Christians, etc.
Some more background
Roman monuments and architecture are the
most conspicuous and numerous remains of
any ancient civilization.
Today, Roman temples and basilicas are
repurposed as churches.
Remains of concrete buildings are
incorporated into the architecture of
restaurants, houses, factories, stores,
museums and more.
Roman amphitheaters stage bull fights,
sports events, operas, and concerts.
A little more background
Ships continue to dock in what were once Roman
ports
Western Europe’s highway system still closely
follows the routes of Roman roads
Roma law, government, calendar, language, even
money live on in the Western world
Roman artwork effectively drives modern political
campaigns- the idea of manipulation
Roman mastery of concrete construction guides
developers today.
You guessed it!
Romulus and Remus- twins who, according to
legend, founded the empire on the Tiber
River on April 21, 753 BCE.
Caput Mundi- head or capital of the world
some hundreds of years later.
However, in the 8th century, Rome was
essentially an Etruscan city. Small huts made
of mud and brick dotted the countryside.
Much work done in terra cotta early on.
History
Reflects the pride and ambition of a massive empire
Monumental buildings and sculptures glorify gods and state
A history of Roman painting survives on walls of Pompeiian
villas
Basic elements of perspective and foreshortening
Foreshortening, method of rendering a specific object or
figure in a picture in depth. The artist records, in varying
degrees, the distortion that is seen by the eye when an
object or figure is viewed at a distance or at an unusual
angle.
Greatly indebted to Greeks
Key Ideas
State and wealthy individuals spent majorly
on their homes; however, they also fully
supported artists- very generous to public
Demand for Greek works, HUGE workshops
are created to accommodate production
Many works are imported directly from
Greece
Homes were stages to display lavish wealth.
509 BCE: overthrow last of the Etruscan
kings, Tarquinius Superbus, and establish
Republic
Patronage
Power mainly vested in Senate- literally a council of
elders, senior citizens, and two elected consuls.
A consul was the highest elected political office of
the Roman Republic. Each year, two consuls were
elected together, to serve for a one-year term.
Under extreme cases, a dictator could be appointed.
Patricians- wealthy landowners
Later- rulers also from plebeians (small farmers,
merchants, freed slaves)
Republic
Architectural Innovations
Barrel vault- extended in space, forms a continuous
tunnel-like construction
Groin vault- intersection of two barrel vaults in which
a large, open-space is formed.
*Important because can be supported with only 4
corner piers(vertical support)
Spandrels- spaces between the arches on the piers
*Arches and vaults make enormous buildings
possible.
*Arches were used occasionally in Mesopotamia much
earlier; post-and-lintel still the norm until Romans
extend use of the arch and vault.
Innovations
House of the Vettii (*IS)
The Domus played a key role is the
Roman Republic. Not just a home, but a
stage. Reinforced the social order. Patron
(patronus) would receive his clients
(clientes) in the atrium. Much pressure to
have the best display of wealth as clients
could discuss.
Originally built 2nd century
BCE, rebuilt ca. 62 – 79 CE
Owned by two brothers –
freedmen who became
merchants
Axial symmetry – anyone
entering can see straight
through house to garden
in the rear (modern
comparison?)
No exterior windows –
lighting comes from atrium
and peristyle garden in
rear
House of the Vettii (*IS)
Atrium served as a
reception area and is
open to sky – center of
floor is an impluvium
or catch basin
Cubicula radiate
around garden – this is
the home’s private
area
House of the Vettii (*IS)
Painting Styles
Painting Styles
Ca. 75 – 50 BCE
Realistic portrayal (where
have we seen this?)
A veristic portrait
Features suggest
experience and wisdom
Head of a Roman Patrician (*IS)
Ca.80 – 90 CE
Example of elaborate
hairstyles in vogue at time
Flavian Woman (*CS)
20 CE, marble copy of
bronze original
Idealized view of Augustus
◦ Compare with Doryphorous
Sense of divine rule, blurring
of god and man
Armor shows he is a warrior;
judge’s robes show he is a
civic ruler
At base – Cupid on dolphin,
showing his descent from
Venus
Augustus of Prima Porta (*IS)
106 – 112 CE
Built by Apollodorus of Damascus to
commemorate Trajan’s victory of the
Dacians
Central plaza flanked by stoas
Forum of Trajan (*IS)
385’x112’ (huge
interior space)
Wide nave, two apses
Contained galleries,
law courts
Timber roof 80’ wide
Named for Trajan’s
family (birth name:
Marcus Ulpius
Traianus)
Basilica Ulpia (*IS)
Multilevel mall with
over 150 shops
Semicircular
construction
Main space is groinvaulted; shops
placed in barrel
vaults
Markets of Trajan (*IS)
Trajan’s tomb – ashes
buried in base
128 feet high, narrative
around column tells his
victory over Dacians
Low relief; scholars
unsure how upper parts
were viewed
Interior staircase
allowed visitors to climb
to top
Column of Trajan (*IS)
Flavian Amphitheatre (Colosseum)
(*IS)
72 – 80 CE
Seated 50,000
Concrete Core, brick case, travertine
facing
76 entrances
Used for violent spectacles but not
religious persecution
Façade has engaged columns, each level
is a different order
Flavian Amphitheatre (Colosseum)
(*IS)
The Pantheon (*IS)
The Pantheon
118 – 125 CE
Dedicated to all
gods
Corinthian capital
with two pediments
Square coffers and
floor panels
contrast with the
roundness of walls
Built with variety of
concretes to lighten
structure
Ca. 250-260 CE
Very crowded
surface; figures lack
individuality
Reflects confusion of
battle
Romans defeat
barbarians
General is
helmetless;
indicating
invincibility
Ludovisi Battle Sarcophagus